NATIONAL SECURITY

Funding Cuts Stall Afghanistan Aid

Funding cuts in Congress are holding back three development initiatives aimed at supporting the American military in southern Afghanistan, the Washington Post reports.

The initiatives were designed to support local governments, agricultural development, and job-training programs, but have been stalled due to lack of funding and will not begin until the summer fighting season is over, senior U.S. officials told the Post.

Though officials assured that the delay would not affect agricultural aid or development assistance, neither will be as effective in reinforcing military efforts against the Taliban by providing jobs and basic government services to the people.

"Our flank is exposed," a senior U.S. military officer in Afghanistan told the Post.